Diascia plant named &#39;diasroroc&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Diascia  plant particularly distinguished by its rosy white flowers, which produces no seeds, and has a growing habit that is compact.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Diascia barberae

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Diasroroc’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Diascia,botanically known as Diascia barberae.

The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of‘120-1’ and ‘B 118-1’. ‘B 120-1’ is a pink flowering Diascia. ‘B 120-1’is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. ‘B118-1’ is an apricot flowering Diascia. ‘B 118-1’ is not commerciallyavailable and is not known by any synonyms. Neither ‘B 120-1’ nor ‘B118-1’ has been patented.

As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 2000 inEnkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced bycuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over athree-year period. It has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive propagations. The new variety isstable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexualreproductions.

This new Diascia plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US,only in zones 7, 8, 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Diascia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color,the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of this new Diascia. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inEnkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 10 weeks oldplants, cultured in 10.5 cm containers, blossomed under natural light ina greenhouse.

Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Colorreferences are primarily to the RHS Colour Chart of the RoyalHorticultural Society of London. TABLE 1 Differences between the newcultivar ‘Diasroroc,’ its parents and a similar cultivar ‘Diasroroc’ ‘B120-1’ ‘B 118-1’ ‘Diastu’ Flower color Rose-white Pink Apricot Lavenderrose Plant size Small Medium Small Medium Leaf size Large Medium SmallMedium Internodes Very short Medium Short Short‘Diastu’ has the commercial name Flying Colors trailing Antique Rose andis patented under U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,949.

The Plant

-   Classification: Botanical: Diascia barberae.-   Parentage: Female parent: A seedling named ‘B 120-1’ is one of our    seedlings from our B-generation of plants bred in 1996. — Pollen    parent: A seedling named ‘B 118-1’ is one of our seedlings from our    B-generation of plants bred in 1996.-   Growth habit: Compact.-   Plant height: 14-20 cm.-   Speading area of plant: 18-22 cm.-   Growth rate: Vigorous.-   Strength: Very good.-   Branching character: Freely branching and lateral branching at every    node.-   Quantity of branches: 100-120 branches per plant.-   Blooming period: From April until November.

The Stem

-   Diameter: 0.5-1.0 mm.-   Shape: Round.-   Length: 12-14 cm.-   Color: 141C.-   Anthocyan pigmentation: Absent.-   Length of internode: — Vegetative growth 8-15 mm — Generative growth    10-25 mm.-   Pubescence: Not pubescent.

The Foliage

-   Phyllotaxis: Opposite, decussate.-   Number of leaves per lateral stem: 16-36.-   Shape of blade: Cordate.-   Texture: Upper side: Smooth — Lower side: Smooth.-   Attachment to leaf: Petiolate.-   Venation: Pinnate.-   Color of veins: Upper side: 137B — Lower side: 137D.-   Leaf margin: Crenate.-   Leaf base: Cordate.-   Leaf apex: Acute to rounded.-   Length 16-21 mm.-   Width: 12-18 mm.-   Depth of incision: Less than 1 mm.-   Color: Upper side: 137A — Lower side: 137C.-   Pubescence: No pubescence.-   Length of petiole: 2-3 mm.-   Diameter of petiole: 1-2 mm.-   Color of petiole: 137A.-   Petiole surface texture: Smooth.

The Bud

-   Peduncle length: 5-25 mm, depending on season-   Peduncle width: 1-2 mm-   Peduncle shape Long and threadlike-   Peduncle color 137A-   Size of the bud: Length: 3 mm — Diameter: 3 mm.-   Shape of the bud: Oval.-   Color of the bud: 157C.-   Number of buds per lateral branch: 4-25.-   Sepals: Color 141A — Form Star-shaped — Number: 5, parted — Length    1-2 mm — Width: 1-2mm — Shape Elliptic, apex acute, base truncate —    Margin: Entire — Texture: Smooth.-   Bracts: Color — Upper side: 141A — Color — Lower side 141B —    Arrangement: Sessile — Number: One underneath every pedicel —    Length: 1-2 mm — Width: 1-2mm — Apex: Acute — Base: Subcordate —    Margin Entire — Texture: Smooth.-   Pedicels: Color: 141B — Shape: Threadlike — Length: 6-8 mm —    Diamter: 1 mm.

The Flower

-   Inflorescence length: 3-6 cm.-   Inflorescence diameter: 1-3 cm.-   Flower width: 18-20 mm.-   Flower length: 19-22 mm.-   Flower depth: 6-8 mm.-   Flower aspect: Tipped upward and outward.-   Borne: Solitary.-   Form: Zygomorphic, five lobed, double nectar spur.-   Cluster: Raceme.-   Color — young flower: — Upper surface: 68B, each petal having parts    that are 69D, veined 69B On the two upper banner petals there is a    small yellow (color 9B) indentation just above the reproductive    organs — Lower surface: Uniform 73C. On the two upper banner petals    there is a small light yellow (color 9D) indentation at the base.-   Color — older flower: — Upper surface: 68B, only basal lip petal has    a small part that is color 69D The indentation on the banner petals    stays the same color (yellow 9B). — Lower surface: Uniform 73C. On    the two upper banner petals there is a small light yellow (color 9D)    indentation at the base.-   Overlapping of the petals: Separate.-   Number of petals: Five: two upper banner petals, two lateral petals    and one larger basal lip petal.-   Shape of the banner petals: Apex rounded, base fused.-   Shape of the lateral petals: Apex rounded, base fused, lower surface    modified into nectar spurs.-   Shape of the basal lip petal: Apex truncate, base fused.-   Petal margin: Entire, starting as a young very undulate, later just    entire.-   Petal surface texture: Smooth.-   Size of the banner petals: — Length: 3-4mm — Width: 4-6 mm.-   Size of the lateral petals: — Length: 3-4 mm — Width: 4-6 mm.-   Size of the basal lip petal: — Length: 10-14 mm — Width: 10-14 mm.-   Spur: Length: 6-8 mm — Diameter: 1-2 mm at petal attachment — Color:    186B.-   Number of flowers per raceme: 20-30.-   Fragrance: No fragrance.-   Lastingness of the bloom: New florets continue to open in one raceme    over a period of 14 days.-   Lastingness of one flower: About 4 days depending on temperature.-   Flowering season: Depending on climate from March until December.

The Reproductive Organs

-   Androecium: Stamen number: Three — Anther shape Two-lobed — Anther    size: Less than 1 mm — Anther color: Yellow 7A — Amount of pollen:    Very much pollen — Pollen color: Yellow 7A.-   Gynoecium: Pistil number 1 — Stigma shape: Rounded — Pistil length:    2-3 mm — Style length 1-2 mm — Style color: Green 143A — Stigma    color: Green white 157A — Ovary color: Green 134A.

The Fruit and the Seed

-   Seedset: No fruit development or seedset has been observed.

The Roots

-   Type of roots: Fibrous.-   Rooting habit: Fine and freely branching.-   Color: Whiteish, N155A.

Disease/Pest Resistance

-   Plants of the new Diascia have been noted to be resistant to    pathogens or pests common to Diascia.

Temperature Tolerance

-   Plants of the new Diascia have been observed to tolerate    temperatures from 0 to 35 degrees C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant named ‘Diasroroc,’ assubstantially illustrated and described herein.